IT doesn't come any better for a Stoke striker than receiving the Jimmy Greenhoff seal of approval.

And Peter Crouch, who seeks his 11th goal of the season against old club Tottenham tomorrow, has been paid an even higher compliment by the Stoke legend.

"I would have loved to have played with him," says Greenhoff.

"He doesn't get the plaudits he should. At times, it would have been easy for him to have had a right good moan because players weren't around him to help him out. But he got on with it because he's a great pro."

Not that Crouchy was the only one to earn a pat on the back from Greenhoff, a player still revered by those witnessing his classy contribution to Stoke's heyday in the 1970s.

"A hell of a lot of players have come to the fore. I like Glenn Whelan because he works hard and he pushes Steven Nzonzi further forward. And that's better because I don't like it when he's deep and he plays around on the ball in those areas.

"Glenn is a senior member of the squad and he's thought 'I have to produce' – and Glenn has done a good job.

"Ryan (Shawcross) has been fantastic as well. It has to be said that if he was playing for a bigger club he would be playing for England.

"It was the same in my day playing for an unfashionable club, but if he keeps playing with the great attitude he has, then who knows?"

Greenhoff might have loved playing alongside Crouch, but he's not so sure about lining up with Marko Arnautovic.

"He's a great player, but he can be frustrating. He's got a lot of things going for him, but he does silly things and no matter how much you tell him, he still does them."

Greenhoff says he wouldn't be so presumptuous as to tell manager Mark Hughes what he should buy this summer, but he hopes there aren't wholesale changes.

"He knows he will need a couple of players to bolster the squad, but chopping and changing is not good because new faces are having to get to know each other.

"It's nice just to bring in a couple and keep that continuity."

And tomorrow's game? "Tottenham have had a kick up the backside from Tim Sherwood and they've got to finish on a good note because Tim still wants the job.

"But I think Stoke will be too good for them. They've been on a good run and will be looking forward to next season already."

FORMER Stoke winger Tony Kelly, who famously nut-megged Bruce Grobbelaar in a League Cup tie at Anfield two decades ago, will be signing copies of his book Red Card, an honest insight into the graphic cost of his gambling addiction, at the Tollgate in Blurton tonight (6.30-8pm)